Tire pump

ABSTRACT

A tire pump with an upright cylinder mounted on a base wherein the connection between the cylinder and base is made by a circular connector element having annular interlocking engagement with both the cylinder and base eliminating the use of solder, rivets or the like. The actual connection is effected by arranging the cylinder, connector and base in a stacked assembly and then placing the assembly between two closing dies which deform the connector into a tight interlocked connection with the other components.

United States Patent [191 Linden-helm Jan. 22, 1974 TIRE PUMP [75] Inventor: Gordon J. Linden-helm, Minneapolis,

[21] App]. No.: 260,428

[52] US. Cl. 92/169, 29/512 [51] Int. Cl Fl6j 11/02 [58] Field of Search 92/169; 417/544; 152/415;

7/1933 Sullivan 92/169 3/1949 Hirschfeld 29/522 Primary Examiner-Paul L. Maslousky Attorney, Agent, or FirmCarlsen, Carlsen & Sturm 5 7] ABSTRACT A tire pump with an upright cylinder mounted on a base wherein the connection between the cylinder and base is made by a circular connector element having annular interlocking engagement with both the cylinder and base eliminating the use of solder, rivets or the like. The actual connection is effected by arranging the cylinder, connector and base in a stacked as- [56] References Cited sembly and then placing the assembly between two closing dies which deform the connector into a tight UNITED STATES PATENTS interlocked connection with the other components. 1,450,632 4/1923 Horton 220/69 I 1,776,147 9/ 1930 Clagett 92/169 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" In conventional tire pump construction an upright pump cylinder is mounted on a base member adapted to be held against the ground surface by the operators feet as a piston disposed at the lower end of a handle and rod is moved up and down within the cylinder forcing air out through a hose connected to the bottom of the cylinder.

One problem has been to provide a strong yet economical-to-manufacture connection between the pump cylinder and base. Generally this connection in the past has been effected through a soldering or weldin'g operation which is time consuming and expensive and in many instances subject to breakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction for connecting a tire pump cylinder to its base which is durable, economical and attractive in appearance.

With this and other objects in view the invention broadly comprises connecting the lower open end of a tubular tire pump cylinder to a base having an opening large enough to receive said cylinder end by means of a circular connector element adapted to be interposed between the cylinder and base in a stacked arrangement, the cylinder, base and connector element all being formed of bendable sheet metal material whereby as the connector member is collapsed between two closing dies it will become'deformed and tightly interlocked with portions of the cylinder and base engaged thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a tire pump embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the base, connector element and lower portion of the cylinder in ex-. ploded condition prior to assembly.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the components assembled in stacked condition and prior to the collapsing or bending operation.

F IG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but with the dies in closed position to deform the components into interlocked condition.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawing reference numerals will be used to denote like parts or structural features in the different views. The numeral denotes generally a tire pump having an upright tubular barrel or cylinder 11 mounted on a base 12 and containing a slidable piston 14 disposed at the lower end of rod 15 having a handle 16 at its upper end. An outlet member 17 at the lower end of barrel 11 provides an open connection between the interior of the barrel and hose 18, the distal end of which may be applied to the valve of a vehicle tire or the like to inflate the same as the piston 14 is moved up and down within the cylinder.

The present invention is concerned with the connection between cylinder 11 and base 12. Normally this is accomplished by soldering the bottom end of the barrel to a flat imperforate base. Here base 12 is provided with a circular opening 20 which is slightly larger than the external diameter of the barrel 11. It will be understood that the base 12 has a top wall 21 in which opening 20 is provided and a downtumed marginal flange 22 which supports wall 21 in spaced relation above the ground or floor surface S on which the base is placed.

disk-shaped connector 'element den oted generally at 24, with the diametrical cross sectional shape shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is provided for the dual purpose of closing the bottom end of barrel 11 and connecting the barrel to the base 12. Members 11, 12 and 24 are all formed of bendable sheet metal material. Member 24 has a central plug portion 25 with a cylindrical peripheral wall 26 extending downwardly therefrom which extends into an outer wall 27 which terminates in a flange 28. Walls 26 and 27 jointly form an upwardly opening groove 29 adapted to snugly seat the lower end portion of cylinder 11 which is denoted at 30.

In assembly, the components 11, 24 and 12 are arranged in interfitting position as shown in FIG. 3 with member 24 resting in opening 20 and the cylinder 11 seated in the upwardly opening groove 29. While in this condition theassembly is brought between a female die 34 having an opening 35 for receiving cylinder 11 therein and a male die 36 having a tapered tip 37 adapted to be forced into and stretch the annular wall 26. Die 34 has a bevel 38 encircling opening 35 and facing toward the male die 36.

As dies 34 and 36 converge, as shown in FIG. 4, the members 11, 24' and '12 are clinched together to form a permanent connection. Cylinder portion is stretched and permanently secured and sealed between walls 26 and 27. At the same time the portion of top wall 21 surrounding opening 20 is secured between flange 28 and wall 27. Thus, member 24 rigidly unites barrel 11 and base 12 without requiring any soldering, welding,'rivets or the like.

Having now therefore fully illustrated and described the invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a tire pump, I

a. an upright tubular pump cylinder having an open lower end portion,

b. a fiat base adapted to rest upon the ground and having a vertically opening circular aperture which is diametrically slightly larger than the lower end of the cylinder,

c. a circular connector member seated in said aperture and having an upwardly opening annular groove seating the lower end portion of the cylinder and an imperforate central portion encircled by the groove closing the open end of the cylinder,

d. said cylinder, base and connector member all being formed of bendable sheet metal and having their interengaging portions in interlocking relation whereby the connector member rigidly connects the cylinder to the base, said connector member having a flange surrounding said groove which rests on the top of the base.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said connector member has inner and outer concentric walls forming said groove and wherein said interengaging portions are configured so that said cylinder lower end portion is locked between said inner and outer walls and the base is locked between said flange and the said outer wall. 

1. In a tire pump, a. an upright tubular pump cylinder having an open lower end portion, b. a flat base adapted to rest upon the ground and having a vertically opening circular aperture which is diametrically slightly larger than the lower end of the cylinder, c. a circular connector member seated in said aperture and having an upwardly opening annular groove seating the lower end portion of the cylinder and an imperforate central portion encircled by the groove closing the open end of the cylinder, d. said cylinder, base and connector member all being formed of bendable sheet metal and having their interengaging portions in interlocking relation whereby the connector member rigidly connects the cylinder to the base, said connector member having a flange surrounding said groove which rests on the top of the base.
 2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said connector member has inner and outer concentric walls forming said groove and wherein said interengaging portions are configured so that said cylinder lower end portion is locked between said inner and outer walls and the base is locked between said flange and the said outer wall. 